• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6415-6421
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• 2012

Background: Canine mammary gland tumors (CMGTs) are the most common tumor found in bitches. Changes in HER-2/neu genes in human breast cancer (HBC) lead to decrease in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival rate (OSR). Previous studies have demonstrated that the biological behavior of malignant mammary gland tumors (MMGTs) is similar to that of HBC. The present study aimed at evaluating the relationship between overexpression of HER-2/neu and clinicopathological features in MMGTs to represent a model of prognostic factors for HBC. Materials and Method: The clinicopathological data of 35 MMGTs were obtained. Immunohistochemical staining with HER-2, Ki-67 and CD34 markers was conducted with sections from paraffin-embedded blocks. According to standard protocols, histological type, grade, margin status, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), HER-2/neu score, proliferation rate and microvessel density (MVD) of tumors were determined and the association of HER-2/neu overexpression with these parameters was assessed statistically. Results: The IHC results showed that 12 (34.3%) cases were HER-2/neu positive. Statistical analyses indicated a significant relationship between HER-2 positivity and tumor grade (p=0.043), which also was demonstrated with cancer stage (p=0.035), tumor margin involvement (p=0.016), proliferation index (p=0.001) and MVD (p=0.001); however, there was no statistical relationship between LVI and tumor size. Overexpression of the HER-2/neu gene in MMGTs results in similar biological behavior as that of HBC; as a result, these tumors have can be considered to have important similarities in clinicopathological characteristics. Conclusions: MMGTs can be regarded as an HBC animal model. Further studies in this field would result in new treatments that could be beneficial for both dogs and humans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1164-1174
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• 2020

Purpose To evaluate a deep learning model to predict recurrence of thyroid tumor using preoperative ultrasonography (US). Materials and Methods We included representative images from 229 US-based patients (male:female = 42:187; mean age, 49.6 years) who had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer on preoperative US and subsequently underwent thyroid surgery. After selecting each representative transverse or longitudinal US image, we created a data set from the resulting database of 898 images after augmentation. The Python 2.7.6 and Keras 2.1.5 framework for neural networks were used for deep learning with a convolutional neural network. We compared the clinical and histological features between patients with and without recurrence. The predictive performance of the deep learning model between groups was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the area under the ROC curve served as a summary of the prognostic performance of the deep learning model to predict recurrent thyroid cancer. Results Tumor recurrence was noted in 49 (21.4%) among the 229 patients. Tumor size and multifocality varied significantly between the groups with and without recurrence (p < 0.05). The overall mean area under the curve (AUC) value of the deep learning model for prediction of recurrent thyroid cancer was 0.9 ± 0.06. The mean AUC value was 0.87 ± 0.03 in macrocarcinoma and 0.79 ± 0.16 in microcarcinoma. Conclusion A deep learning model for analysis of US images of thyroid cancer showed the possibility of predicting recurrence of thyroid cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.489-496
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• 2003

To clarify the prognostic implication of the location and number of the metastatic mediastinal nodes in resected stage IIIA N2 non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: One hundred and seventy-four patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer who eventually proved to have pathologic stage IIIA N2 disease were studied. Patients who received preoperative induction therapy, non-curative operation or defined as operative mortality were excluded from this study. Result: In upper lobe tumors, there was no difference in 5-year survival according to the involvement of lower mediastinal nodes (32.3% vs 25.6%, p＝0.86). In lower lobe tumors, no difference was found in 5-year survival according to the involvement of upper mediastinal nodes (25.1% vs 14.1%, p＝0.33). There was no significant difference in 5-year survival between patients with or without metastatic subcarinal node (20.9% vs 25.6%, p＝0.364). In terms of the number of metastatic mediastinal nodes, 5-year survival was better in single station group (26.3%) than multiple station group (18.3%) (p＝0.048). In multiple station N2 group, the patients who received postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy had better 5-year survival (34.2%) (p＝0.01). Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that the age $\geq$60 (O.R: 1.682, p＝.006), multiple station N2 (O.R: 1.503. p＝0.021), pneumonectomy (O.R: 1.562, p＝0.018), postoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy (O.R: 0.625, p＝0.012) were the factors affecting the postoperative survival. Conclusion: Multiple station N2 disease was the important prognostic factor for postoperative survival in resected stage IIIA N2 non-small cell lung cancer. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy were thought to improve the survival in case of multiple station N2 disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-54
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• 2000

Purpose: Dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion SPECT could predict prognosis, however, long-term follow-up showed change of hazard ratio in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. We investigated how long normal SPECT could predict the benign prognosis on the long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods: We followed up 1169 patients and divided these patients into groups in whom coronary angiography were performed and were not. Total cardiac event rate and hard event rate were predicted using clinical, angiographic and SPECT findings. Predictive values of normal and abnormal SPECT were examined using survival analysis with Mantel-Haenszel method, multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis and newly developed statistical method to test time-invariance of hazard rate and changing point of this rate. Results: Reversible perfusion decrease on myocardial perfusion SPECT predicted higher total cardiac event rate independently and further to angiographic findings. However, myocardial SPECT showed independent but not incremental prognostic values for hard event rate. Hazard ratio of normal perfusion SPECT was changed significantly (p<0.001) and the changing point of hazard rate was 4.4 years of follows up. However, the ratio of abnormal SPECT was not. Conclusion: Dipyridamole stress myocardial perfusion SPECT provided independent prognostic information in patients with known and suspected coronary artery disease. Normal perfusion SPECT predicted least event rate for 4.4 years.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2016

Purpose: Malignant ascites is a common complication in terminal cancer patients. Less-invasive pigtail catheter insertion is the most frequent procedure in patients who need repeated ascites drainage. This study investigated effects and adverse events associated with catheter insertion for ascites drainage and evaluated prognostic outcomes. Methods: We reviewed medical records between 2010 and 2013 of hospice and palliative care institutions in Seoul, South Korea. Among 2,608 inpatients, 67 patients received ascites pigtail catheter drainage. We reviewed demographic data, palliative performance scale, laboratory data, duration of catheter insertion, prevalence and type of complications, use and duration of antibiotics, and survival time. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to evaluate prognostic outcomes related with catheter insertion. Results: Ascites drainage was performed most commonly in hepatobiliary and gastric cancer patients. Ascites symptoms improved in 55 patients after the catheter drainage. Adverse events included pain (19.4%), leakage (14.9%), disconnection (7.5%), catheter occlusion (6%) and fever (4.5%). In Cox regression analysis, survival time from the catheter insertion was significantly associated with Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) (HR 0.73; P value 0.045) and serum sodium level (HR 2.77; P value 0.003) in a multivariate model. Conclusion: Patients' PPS and serum sodium level should be considered before making a decision of pigtail catheter insertion.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 1996

Purpose : To find the more effective treatment methods that improving the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme(GBM), we analyze the prognostic factors and the outcome of therapy in patients with GBM. Materials and Methods : One hundred twently-one patients with a diagnosis of GBM treated at Severance Hospital between 1973 and 1993 were analyzed for survival with respect to patients characteristics, that is, duration of symptom, age, and Karnofsky performance status, as well as treatment related variables such as extent of surgery and radiotherapy. Results : The median survival time(MST) and 2-year overall survival rate (OSR) of the patients with GBM were 13 months and $20.8\%$, respectively. Duration of symptom, age, Karnofsky performance status(KPS), radiotherapy, and extent of surgical resection were associated with improved survial in a univariate analysis. Patients whose duration of symptom was longer than 3 months, had the 2-year OSR of $47.2\%$(p=0.0082), who were younger than age 50, $32.9\%$(p=0.0003) In patients with a KPS of 80 or higher, the 2-rear OSR was $36.9\%$(p=0.0422). Patients undergoing radiotherapy had the 2-year OSR of $22.9\%$(p=0.0030), and surgical resection of $23.3\%$ (p<0.000). A Cox regression model confirmed a significant correlation of duration of symptom, age, radiotherapy, and extent of surgical resection with survival, excluding KPS(P=0.8823). The 2-year OSR were $22.3\%$ and $19.4\%$, combined with chemotherapy or without, respectively(p=0.6028). The duration of symptom of 3 months or shorter, 50 years of age or older, and undergoing stereotactic biopsy only were considered as risk factors, then patients without any risk factors had the MST of 29 months and 2-year OSR of $53.9\%$ compared to 4 months and $0\%$ for Patients who had all 3 risk factors. Most of all treatment failures occurred in the primary tumor site($80.4\%$). Conclusion : The duration of symptom, age, radiotherapy, and extent of surgical resection were a prognostically significant indeuendent variables. To get a better survival, it seems to be reasonable that the study design which improves the local control rates is warranted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 1998

Purpose : To determine the role of Pelvic irradiation in stage I or IIA cervical carcinoma with pelvic nodal metastasis after hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study of 68 cervical carcinoma patients who were found to have pelvic nodal metastasis at hysterectomy and received pelvic irradiation from 1983 to 1996 at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. External beam radiation therapy to pelvis was delivered using 4 MeV Linac and intracavitary irradiation was given via vaginal ovoids or cylinders. Five-year survival and disease-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier Method and prognostic factors related to survival were analysed by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results : Median length of follow-up was 52months. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) were 81.8$\%$ and 81.7$\%$ respectively. Patients with endometrial invasion had a 57.1$\%$ 5-year DFS compared to 87.5$\%$ for those without endometrial invasion (p=0.0074). Multivariate analysis revealed endometrial invasion as an only statistically significant prognostic factor for 5-year DFS. Among total 15 (22$\%$) recurrences. pelvic recurrences occurred in 4 cases and distant metastases occurred in 13 cases. Conclusion : We have been able to confirm previous results demonstrating marked decrease in local recurrence after pelvic irradiation. In view of the high proportion of distant metastasis found in this study, a trial of aggressive adjuvant systemic therapy and irradiation in early stage cervical carcinoma patients with pelvic nodal metastasis, especially with endometrial invasion, appears to be warranted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.327-334
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• 2001

Purpose : To find out the role of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer by comparing survival, pelvic control, complication rate, and any prognostic factor between surgery alone and postoperative radiotherapy group. Materials and methods : From Feb. 1982 to Dec. 1996 total 212 patients were treated by radical surgery with or without postoperative radiotherapy due to rectal carcinoma of modified Astler-Coiler stage $B2\~C3$. Of them, 18 patients had incomplete radiotherapy and so the remaining 194 patients were the database analyzed in this study. One hundred four patients received postoperative radiotherapy and the other 90 patients had surgery only. Radiotherapy was peformed in the range of $39.6\~55.8\;Gy$ (mean: 49.9 Gy) to the whole pelvis and if necessary, tumor bed was boosted by $5.4\~10\;Gy$. Both survival and pelvic control rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and their statistical significance was tested by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was peformed by Cox proportional hazards model. Results : 5-year actuarial survival rate (5YSR) and 5-year disease-free survival rate (5YDFSR) of entire patients were $53\%\;and\;49\%$, respectively. 5YSRs of surgery alone group and adjuvant radiotherapy group were $63\%\;vs\;45\%$, respectively (p=0.03). This difference is thought to reflect uneven distribution of stages between two treatment groups (p<0.05 by $\chi^2-test$) with more advanced disease patients in adjuvant radiotherapy group. 5YSRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in MAC B2+3, C1, C2+3 were $68\%\;vs\;55\%$ (p=0.09), $100\%\;vs\;100\%$, $40\%\;vs\;33\%$ (p=0.71), respectively. 5YDFSRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in above three stages were $65\%\;vs\;49\%$ (p=0.14), $100\%\;vs\;100\%$, $33\%\;vs\;31\%$ (p=0.46), respectively. 5-year pelvic control rate (5YPCR) of entire patients was $72.5\%$. 5YPCRs of surgery alone and adjuvant radiotherapy group were $71\%\;vs\;74\%$, respectively (p=0.41). 5YPCRs of surgery alone vs adjuvant radiotherapy group in B2+3, C1, C2+3 were $79\%\;vs\;75\%$ (p=0.88), $100\%\;vs\;100\%$, $44\%\;vs\;68\%$ (p=0.01), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only stage was significant factor affecting overall and disease-free survival in entire patients and also in both treatment groups. In view of pelvic control, stage and operation type were significant in entire patients and only stage in surgery alone group but in adjuvant radiotherapy group, operation type instead of stage was the only significant factor in multivariate analysis as a negative prognostic factor in abdominoperineal resection cases. Conclusion : Our retrospective study showed that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy could improve the pelvic control in MAC C2+3 group. To improve both pelvic control and survival in all patients with MAC B2 or more, other treatment modality such as concurrent continuous infusion of 5-FU, which is the most standard agent, with radiotherapy should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7097-7103
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• 2014

Over-expression of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) genes is associated with the prognosis of various types of cancers. However, the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes on recurrence and survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients after surgery are still unknown. In this study, a total of 500 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery treatment were included. Eight SNPs in 3 genes (ACACA, FASN and ACLY) of the DNL pathway were examined using the Sequenom iPLEX genotyping system. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze the association of SNPs with patient survival and tumour recurrence. We found that two SNPs in the FASN gene were significantly associated with the recurrence of NSCLC. SNP rs4246444 had a significant association with lung cancer recurrence under additive model (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.67-1.00; p=0.05). Under the dominant model, rs4485435 exhibited a significant association with recurrence (HR, 0.75; 95%CI, 0.56-1.01; p=0.05). Additionally, SNP rs9912300 in ACLY gene was significantly associated with overall survival in lung cancer patients (HR, 1.41; 95%CI, 1.02-1.94, p=0.04) under the dominant model. Further cumulative effect analysis showed moderate dose-dependent effects of unfavorable SNPs on both survival and recurrence. Our data suggest that the SNPs in DNL genes may serve as independent prognostic markers for NSCLC patients after surgery.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.120-134
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for patients with distant lymph node-involved gastric cancer (GC) using a machine learning algorithm, a method that offers considerable advantages and new prospects for high-dimensional biomedical data exploration. Materials and Methods: This study employed 79 features of clinical pathology, laboratory tests, and therapeutic details from 289 GC patients whose distant lymphadenopathy was presented as the first episode of recurrence or metastasis. Outcomes were measured as any-cause death events and survival months after distant lymph node metastasis. A prediction model was built based on possible outcome predictors using a random survival forest algorithm and confirmed by 5×5 nested cross-validation. The effects of single variables were interpreted using partial dependence plots. A contour plot was used to visually represent survival prediction based on 2 predictive features. Results: The median survival time of patients with GC with distant nodal metastasis was 9.2 months. The optimal model incorporated the prealbumin level and the prothrombin time (PT), and yielded a prediction error of 0.353. The inclusion of other variables resulted in poorer model performance. Patients with higher serum prealbumin levels or shorter PTs had a significantly better prognosis. The predicted one-year survival rate was stratified and illustrated as a contour plot based on the combined effect the prealbumin level and the PT. Conclusions: Machine learning is useful for identifying the important determinants of cancer survival using high-dimensional datasets. The prealbumin level and the PT on distant lymph node metastasis are the 2 most crucial factors in predicting the subsequent survival time of advanced GC.